How to choose a heated towel rail

Installing a heated towel rail is an excellent solution if there is no heating radiator in the room. This is a multifunctional device that will help to solve two issues at once: to dry clothes and to a certain extent to warm the room. An electric heated towel rail for the bathroom is very convenient. It operates all year round, is not tied to the heating system and is very easy to install. If recently, heated towel rails are not particularly different from each other by the principle of work and design, today the variety of assortment will please the most demanding customers.

What are heated towel rails

There are various devices of this kind, differing in their technical and structural features, as well as in the installation method.

1. By the type of coolant connection: water, electric and combined type devices.
2. By size formats: vertical and horizontal.
3. According to the material of manufacture: aluminum, ceramic, steel and copper.

The main materials used to make towel dryers include: aluminum, ceramics, copper, ordinary steel and stainless steel. The durability, thermal characteristics and tactile qualities of a device of this type directly depend on the material from which the product was manufactured. It is not recommended to choose appliances made from mild steel. This is a short-lived material and devices made on its basis begin to leak quickly. Non-ferrous metal devices (brass or galvanized copper) have a higher cost, but they also serve as an example longer. High-quality stainless steel appliances do not rust until 50 years of continuous use.

REFERENCE! The fewer joints on the heated towel rail, the less likely it will be to form defects in the weld areas. Perfectly cooked joints will be smooth to the touch.

Why choose an electric model

A heated towel rail of this type consists of a bent pipe and a heating element connected to an electric power source. Each model has its own connection nuances, depending on its structure. This type of device can be installed on the floor or attached to the wall.

If we compare electric models with water ones, the closed loop is considered an absolute advantage of the former. This means that the device can work offline, regardless of the presence of hot water in the house. In such systems there are no problems with pressure and air jams. Problems using such a device may occur if the power is suddenly turned off. But even despite this, devices of this kind have a significant advantage over water devices. Problems with power outages are usually resolved within 24 hours, while water pipes can be prevented throughout the summer months.

Types of electric heated towel rails

Electric heated towel rails can have a cable ("dry"), liquid ("wet") or combined design, depending on the filling of the pipes. Models with a “wet” design are heated with the help of a coolant (water, oil or antifreeze), heated from the inside by a heating element. In essence, it is a curved pipe filled with warm liquid. Their principle of operation is very similar to the operation of electric heaters. Any of these options for coolants has characteristic advantages and negative features. Water is able to heat up to a temperature of +85 ° C, but at the same time it cools quickly enough. A distinctive feature of antifreeze is high thermal conductivity. Oil keeps heat for a long time after a power outage occurs, but the maximum allowable temperature of oil heaters cannot exceed + 80 ° С.

Wet models can be connected in two ways: to the central heating system and to the hot water system. It is not recommended to use the first option, since the operating time of such a device will be limited by the heating period.

The main advantage of models with a "wet" design is the ability to retain heat after turning off the power. The disadvantages include the impressive energy consumption compared to heated towel rails having a “dry” design. Another significant drawback of the “wet” models is the short life of the heating elements, since they wear out faster in the fluid.

Towel dryers having a "dry" type heating element are heated using a special insulated cable (the same cable is used in underfloor heating systems) and have a longer service life. As a rule, such products last 3-5 years longer than their “wet” counterparts. The length of their functioning period largely depends on the materials and the build quality of such devices. Towel dryers with a "dry" design, provide less energy consumption during operation, and their range is much wider.

Combined type models are recommended to be purchased subject to the availability of the required amount of funds, since the cost of such towel warmers is significantly higher. Such models work both from the mains and from central heating. The main advantage of such devices is that they can function from heating in the fall and winter, and in case of emergency during the disconnection of hot water they can operate from the mains.

REFERENCE! Many of these models have a temperature controller, which can be mechanical or electronic.

If necessary, the water heated towel rail can be converted into a combined type system. For this, it is necessary to select a model of the device that is suitable in size and purchase a heater with the appropriate power.

Criteria for choosing an electric heated towel rail

In order to understand which heated towel rail is better and when choosing not to miscalculate and purchase the model that best meets certain preferences, it is recommended to pay maximum attention to the following characteristics.

1. Device power. This indicator should always be calculated so that 150-200 watts of power is fully provided for one square meter of the bathroom. If you install a device that does not have enough power, the room will be too damp. A device with a power higher than recommended will cost several times more and will consume excessive electricity.
2. Type of heating element. In most cases, devices of this kind with “wet” or “dry” heating elements have the same power. You can see the difference only in the heating and cooling rates. Although these indicators are not fundamental, when choosing a suitable model, it is still worth considering them.
3. Profitability. The power consumption of different types of devices can vary significantly. Devices of this type are equipped with heating elements with a power of 100-2000 watts. Powerful models are equipped with special sensors, automation that turns them off when a certain temperature is reached. Thanks to this feature, resources are spent more economically.
4. The way to connect the device to the network. It can be open or closed. Open differs in that in this case the wires leading from the device to the electrical outlet are on the visible part of the wall. With the closed version, they will be reliably hidden directly under the finishing elements. The first way is easier to connect devices, and the second is safer.
5. Availability of additional features. If necessary, you can purchase a model equipped with a timer, a temperature controller or other useful functions of a different nature that facilitate the operation of the device.

When purchasing an electric heated towel rail, you need to check whether this model is compatible with the local power grid (relevant for imported appliances). Otherwise, you will have to additionally acquire a special adapter.

A good heated towel rail is a rather useful component of the bathroom, in particular it matters for those who have small children. Constant heating of the bathtub prevents the occurrence of dampness and accumulation of condensate. As a result, mold and fungus, which can significantly worsen the condition of the decoration materials of the room and provoke the appearance of respiratory diseases in residents, reproduce much less. In addition, in the ranking of modern models of such devices unusual design solutions are found that can significantly transform the bathroom, becoming the most vivid and noticeable part of it.